Improvement in self-closing pitchers



W. H. McGREWX?v C. A. CLARK.

- SELF-CLOSING P ITCHER. N 170,09,6 Patented Nov.16,1875.

ATTEST: INVENTORS:

I. PETERS, PHOTO-LI'INOGRAPMER. WASH NG'IDN D C OFFICE.

WILLIAM H. MOGREW AND CHARLES A. CLARK, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

IMPROVEMENT IN SELF-CLOSING PITCHERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 170,096, dated November 16, 1875 application filed October 6, 1875.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that we, WVILLIAM H. MOGREW and CHARLES A. CLARK, both of the city and county of St. Louis and State of Missouri, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Self-Glosin g Beer-Pitchers, which improvement is fully set forth in the following specification, reference being had to the accom panying drawings Our invention consists in a pitcher which is hermetically closed at top, and which is filled and emptied only through the spout, which is made circular, and supplied with a spring plug or valve, of which it forms the seat. The valvestem extends through the side of the pitcher beneath the handle, where it has an eye, through which a finger is inserted to draw back the plug, the plug being forced into the spout by a spring.

The drawing shows longitudinal vertical section, with the part beyond the section plane in perspective.

A is the pitcher, having a handle, B, and a tubular spout, 0. Dis the top, hermetically cemented in place. The top D is preferably of glass. The inner end of the tubular spout forms the seat of the valve-plug E. This plug is preferably made of caoutchouc or other soft substance. F is the valvestem, extending through the back of the pitcher, and ending at the rear in an eye, G, into which the finger is inserted to open the valve. The stem passes through a guide-bar, H, whose ends rest in small recesses h inside the pitcher, beneath the top. The stem has a fixed collar, I, against which the front end of the spiral. spring J presses. This spring surrounds the stem, and its rear end presses againstaloose washer,

K, on the stem, and this washer-is thrust by the spring against thewasher of caoutchouc or leather, through which the stem passes, the arrangement being such as to make-a close joint where the stem passes through the pitcher, to prevent the escape of gases from the beer, the valve preventing their escape through I the spout, except when drawn back to permit the liquor to be poured in or out.

In filling the pitcher, it is held with the spout upward, and in connection with the faucet, and the valve is held open. When sufficiently filled the valve is allowed to close, which it does under the'action of the spring J, and the contents may be kept fresh for a long time, as the gases are not permitted to WILLIAM H. MGGREW. CHAS. A. CLARK.

Witnesses SAML. KNIGHT, H. HUTGHINS. 

